Sylivia's Serenade

Ok, if I string these out enough I should keep everyone coming back through the year. Better yet, I should just commit to getting all of these songs up and keep the musings going about other things as well.

As stated before, the instruments have names. This is Sylvia and her song. Silvia has been with me for quite a while and could probably tell great stories of being at school and on the road.

This song has some lyrics to it, at least a melody that could lend to some. I don’t know what the lyrics are. Once Sylvia started singing the rest of this piece sort of just took hold and stayed contemplative. Then we slept.







Photo: Sylvia by Bob Jr
Song: Sylvia's Serenade ©2011 Bob Jr

Josie's Funk

Ok, so it has been three months since RPM’11 and I’m just now getting back to the blog to talk about the pieces as I promised/threatened back in February. Unfortunately the real world sometimes gets in the way of what is really important. Just remember, good things come to those who wait. On with the music.....

Many musicians have names for their instruments. It’s not that we name the instruments themselves, but rather the instruments tell us. I have spent a lot of time with my guitars. I really consider them an extension of me, or possibly an alter ego. I consider them the voices of my soul. This project has allowed the focus to be the instruments and introduces the world to my girls by name.

The first track features Josie. Josie has been in many gigs and recording sessions with me. She was actually named in her first jam session which was at a jazz festival when I first adopted her. She arrived at my house a few weeks before I was to leave and tech week of a show I was playing in the pit. I remember doing set up work and trying to get the sound dialed in during rehearsals and the first few shows. Then off to the festival. In my first long session with an eight piece band, she revealed her name.

The title does not mean that she’s in a funk, but is in the mood to groove in the style. This piece is all Josie (except the drums and bass of course) and offers a few textures of her voice and the overall fun groove I like to get into when the chance arises.




Photo: Josie in the studio by Bob Walker Jr
Music: Josie's Funk ©2011 Bob Walker Jr

Day 28

This is it, the finished product of RPM’11. This was quite a different challenge from the previous ones I have completed just in the approach and outlook I took with this. It still was a challenge none the less. 

I wanted to get some music out this time around which is why I opted for an instrumental. I think the title sums up what happened this year. The sessions were my guitars, my laptop, and me. I like some of the songs, others still need to be developed and finished. This is what the RPM Challenge is though. Write and record 10 songs or 35 minutes worth of music in 28 days. These songs will change in time, although some may just stay as-is and will be used as soundtracks for other projects. 

I was lucky for the most part this year as far as technical challenges go. Only an occasional crash for not running on a separate hard drive and a bit of difficulty in set-up due to using new software. The biggest challenge this year was time and getting the physical space to complete the recording. A new goal is to secure a practice spot of my own where I can play all night and record at any time without outside interruptions. I actually think some of the recordings this year reflect those distractions.  

I can’t dwell on the negative though because I did write and record 42 minutes of new music in 28 days under adverse conditions. 

I will turn in the recording to RPM Headquarters in the morning, then stay tuned to this blog for the next few days as I post and write about the music created. Right now, it’s time for a nap. Cheers!

Ten Days In.......

Here it is day ten of the RPM Challenge. I feel behind even though I’m in decent shape. The challenge for me this time around is getting the space I need to make noise during the hours I work best. So a quick search for a practice space is happening in the midst of creating. 

The quick update.... I have 2 song ideas roughly recorded so I can refine them so they make sense. I wrote another 2 short pieces that may be able to be combined into one with some imrov sections and form development. I could also leave them be but they are quite similar. The downside of pushing out the music I guess is having things sound the same. I also wrote another chord progression and put a form to that, it just needs a melody and some life. Then there are the snippets of other pieces started. 

So really not too bad of a start with the handicap of the time and space issue. I guess it’s better than dealing with tech issues and writer’s block. This month is for the music and it will not be held back. 

RPM Challenge Day 2

This is sort of an odd update. It’s also sort of a flashback to RPM ’08 with all of the snow. (the photo is from that challenge) So I had to spend day 2 of the challenge running some online classes for my day job, then clearing the driveway.

Not all is lost though. Day 1 was pretty productive. I was able to do what I like to call “idea recordings”. I just let the portable recorder roll while I play and will go back later to pull the ideas to develop and make something out of them. I have at least two solid ideas going, possibly three. I think the recording I had to do for my students helped set the tone to get it all to happen. 

Now for the bad news. A new challenge popped up for me this year, that is a lack of practice space. Life challenges and changes moved me around, and with that I lost my own little music making cave. Now I find myself in my peak time to create with a house full of sleeping people and no where to work on my music. I guess my options are to just  bring everyone along and make my noise to beat this challenge, or try to find a space where I won’t disturb anyone. I’m open for any suggestions and help with this dilemma if anyone has any. 

2 1/2 hours to go.........

Yes, it has been a while. It has been a while since I posted a blog. A bit of that is because I was once told “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything”. It has been that way for a bit now. More importantly, it has been two years since I took on this challenge. 

Now, with 150 minutes before the start gun fires, I anticipate the flood of creativity that will ensue. I also anticipate the roadblocks, the technical breakdowns, and the shift of my thoughts to, “why the hell did I sign up for this?” as I enter the RPM Challenge of 2011. Stay tuned for the next 28 days as I attempt to write and record at least 35 minutes worth of music. I came though in the past, and have high hopes of beating this challenge again.